The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) is designed to provide financial support to service personnel and veterans seriously injured as a result of service to cover the extra costs they may have as a result of their injury on or after 6 April 2005. 

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Age Rules: Of the legal age to join the UK Armed Forces.

Type: Non means tested

Taxable: No

Administered by: Veterans UK

Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) is an alternative to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment Scotland or Disability Living Allowance (DLA). You cannot get AFIP and PIP/DLA for the same period.

To be eligible for an Armed Forces Independence Payment, you must be entitled to a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) of 50% or higher of your previous earnings through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

If you are not sure of the rate of your GIP, you can contact the Veterans UK Helpline on 0808 1914 2 18

If you are not entitled to a 50% GIP award or over, you can still apply for PIP in the usual way.

If you receive compensation from the War Pensions Scheme, you will not be entitled to an Armed Forces Independence Payment as you have access to other allowances designed to cover the additional costs related to disability.

Armed Forces Independence Payment is paid at a rate of £184.30 per week. This is the same as the enhanced rate of the Personal Independence Payment components and the highest rate of the Disability Living Allowance components.

Armed Forces Independence Payment and other benefits

Armed Forces Independence Payment is not counted as income when calculating your entitlement to means-tested benefits .

Armed Forces Independence Payment and the Benefit Cap

Your household will be exempt from the Benefit Cap if you, your partner or a qualifying young person in your household are entitled to an Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Veterans UK will automatically issue a claim form to those who get a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) of 50% or higher of their previous earnings through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. 

If you don't receive a claim form, contact Veterans UK helpline on:

• 0808 1914 218 (UK) or
• +44 1253 866 043 (Overseas)

Is there a deadline for making a claim?

There are no time limits. However, if you delay returning your claim form it may affect the date it becomes payable. So you should return your claim form as early as possible.

Change of circumstances

You must report changes in your circumstances which might affect your entitlement to this benefit to Veterans UK.

If your claim is unsuccessful, you can ask Veterans UK to reconsider their decision.

You may appeal if your claim was rejected or if you think the type of award you’ve been given is wrong - for example, if you don’t think your disability has been correctly assessed.

Contact the Veterans UK Helpline on 0808 1914 218  for information on challenging a decision or see the Veterans UK website.